DELTONA, Fla. — George Cortes, 76 of Deltona, was arrested around 10:30 a.m. at Timbercrest Elementary School, where he works.
Deputies began investigating Cortes in mid-June after two young girls told investigators he had sexually battered them between 2014-2015.
The girls were 15 and 18 when the abuse started, deputies said.
Investigators say Cortes battered the older girl twice, coming into her bedroom while she was asleep and fondling her.
Cortes also battered the younger girl twice, once while she was asleep and the other in his own bedroom, investigators said.
The victims told investigators that Cortes threatened them to keep them from telling anyone about the alleged abuse.
"They hadn't told anyone about it previously because I think they were probably intimidated, frightened, probably traumatized," Sheriff's Office spokesman Andrew Gant said.
Deputies executed a search warrant at Cortes’ home on Normandy Boulevard and seized evidence, but they would not say what.
None of the allegations involved activity at the school—but due to the nature of the allegations, deputies are asking parents of kids who knew Cortes to talk to their children and report anything suspicious to the Sheriff’s Office.
Cortes was an employee of GCA, a third-party vendor that provides custodial and grounds services to Volusia County schools.
Volusia County Public Schools made the following call to parents of students at Timbercrest Elementary:
"Good afternoon parents. This is Mrs. McKinney, principal of Timbercrest Elementary calling to provide you information regarding a GCA custodian who was arrested this morning by the Sheriff's office. None of the charges are related to Timbercrest Elementary; however, he has been a custodian at the school since February 2017. When he was hired, a background check was conducted and he had no prior convictions. Due to this arrest, he will not be permitted to work on any Volusia County School campus. Additional information will be released from the Sheriff's Office."<o:p></o:p>